Listen First
Understand the priorities, goals and concerns of the First Nation involved rather than beginning with assumptions.
RELATIONSHIPS • RESPECT • OPPORTUNITY
Partnering with the
First Nations People
Building respectful relationships and helping bridge opportunities between First Nations communities in Canada and business partners in China and across Asia.
WHY PARTNERSHIP MATTERS
Relationships come before transactions.
First Nations are an essential part of Canada's history, present and future. Meaningful business relationships should begin with respect for each Nation's people, leadership, rights, culture, priorities and decision-making processes.
For companies seeking opportunities in Canada, genuine First Nations engagement is more than a business consideration. Strong partnerships can create pathways for shared economic participation, employment, training, infrastructure, community investment and long-term prosperity.
Every First Nation is distinct. Effective partnership requires listening first, avoiding assumptions and developing relationships directly with the communities involved.
CANADA • CHINA • ASIA
Building a bridge between people, cultures and business.
The founder's vision is to help bridge the gap in business relationships between First Nations people in Canada and business leaders, investors and organizations in China and across Asia.
That bridge should be built on trust, respect and patient relationship-building. Chartrand Consulting seeks to help create introductions and conversations in which First Nations communities can communicate their own priorities and potential partners can better understand the importance of respectful engagement.
THE FOUNDER'S PERSONAL CONNECTION
Anthony Chartrand
Founder Anthony Chartrand is a Registered First Nations Status individual with the Government of Canada. His father, Steve Chartrand, was Ojibwe, Saulteaux and Cree and was born in Duck Bay, Manitoba.
Anthony has also found what he considers strong evidence of Asian ancestry on his father's side. He has travelled extensively throughout Asia, giving him personal experience with the region and a deeper appreciation for its people, cultures and business environments. These experiences, together with his First Nations heritage and family connection, are among the reasons he is passionate about building respectful bridges between First Nations people in Canada and people and businesses in China and across Asia.
Anthony's registered status can also be relevant when structuring qualifying business activity on reserve lands. Under section 87 of the Indian Act, certain income of a registered individual that is situated on a reserve may be exempt from income tax. The exemption is not automatic simply because a business operates on First Nations land: the Canada Revenue Agency applies connecting factors such as where income-earning activities, management and customers are located. Registration also does not, by itself, grant a right to operate a business on any First Nation's lands; the applicable First Nation's permissions and requirements must be respected.
Canada Revenue Agency: Section 87 tax exemption information ↗A DEEP HISTORY ON THE PACIFIC COAST
Footprints from approximately 13,000 years ago.
Archaeological research on Calvert Island, British Columbia, documented 29 human footprints representing at least three different foot sizes in sediments dating to roughly 13,000 years ago. The discovery provides important evidence of human presence on Canada's Pacific coast near the end of the last Ice Age.
An article published by the Ice Age Floods Institute discusses the discovery in the context of the hypothesis that some ancient peoples entered the Americas from Asia by travelling along the Pacific coastline.
An important distinction: the footprints demonstrate an ancient human presence on the British Columbia coast; they do not, by themselves, prove that First Nations peoples came from Asia. Rather, the discovery is consistent with broader scientific hypotheses about ancient migration into the Americas. First Nations also have their own histories, traditions and accounts of their origins, which deserve respect in discussions of their history.
Read: “13,000 Year-Old Human Footprints Found on BC Island” — Ice Age Floods Institute ↗Scientific source: McLaren, D. et al. (2018), Terminal Pleistocene epoch human footprints from the Pacific coast of Canada, PLOS ONE 13(3): e0193522.
A RESPONSIBLE APPROACH
Principles for meaningful partnership.
Build Trust
Invest time in genuine relationships, clear communication and accountability.
Create Mutual Value
Explore opportunities designed to create meaningful and lasting benefits for all parties.
Respect Each Nation
Recognize that First Nations are diverse communities with their own leadership, cultures, territories and priorities.
Interested in building respectful partnerships?
Start a conversation about First Nations engagement and international business relationships.
Contact Chartrand Consulting